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North Korea state media airs unseen video from Trump-Kim summit

Posted: 10:19 AM, Jun 14, 2018

Updated:2018-06-14 10:19:05-04

By:
CNN

Getty Images

Images of hundreds of North Koreans jubilantly clapping and waving flags as Kim Jong Un landed in Pyongyang Wednesday have been broadcast across the reclusive country as part of a lengthy state media documentary about his historic summit with US President Donald Trump.

The 42-minute long video aired Thursday revealed behind-the-scenes footage of Kim's unprecedented trip, including of him arriving in Singapore on a Chinese plane and lounging in his luxury hotel.

It was likely some North Koreans' first glimpse of the world outside their tightly restricted borders, including possibly jaw-dropping images of the glittering Singapore skyline.

In contrast to the usually dour programming on the official KCTV news channel, the footage of Kim strolling by swimmers on the Marina Bay Sands rooftop pool or the lush indoor gardens of Sentosa Island would likely be an unusual sight for North Korean viewers.

The country's state media had already highlighted Kim's approval of his host country -- KCNA said on Wednesday Kim was impressed with the "clean and beautiful" city.

"He is going to learn a lot from the good knowledge and experience of Singapore in various fields in the future," state media said.

Over a soaring soundtrack, the documentary ran edited footage of Kim's trip to Singapore, following his movements throughout the city-state, from his arrival on Sunday to his departure on Tuesday night.

It opened with shots of the young North Korean leader preparing for his meeting with Trump en route to the summit aboard the Air China jet loaned to him by the Chinese government.

Narrated in the rousing tones of famous North Korean newsreader Ri Chun-hee
, the documentary stressed that although Kim had already had "countless" meetings with world leaders, this one had drawn attention from across the world.

Shots of Singaporeans cramming the streets to welcome the North Korean leader were imposed over Ri's narration, saying Kim was warmly welcomed.

"A lot of leaders of different countries have visited Singapore but it is unprecedented in the history of Singapore to have streets filled with the welcoming crowd like this," Ri said.

The camera lingered on smiling Singaporeans straining to take photos of the North Korean leader as he passed them.

"Streets were full of people admiring the Supreme leader for his brilliant political skills to lead complex and eventful international politics," Ri said.

During his trip, Kim discussed Singapore's development plan with his hosts, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, according to Ri.

Kim also paid an unannounced visit to Singapore's booming port, the footage showed.

The documentary's heavy focus on Singapore, a prosperous capitalist nation, represents a notable change in tone. North Korean media, tightly controlled by the state, typically refrains from showcasing foreign advancements.

The broadcast of the documentary was followed immediately afterward by a video montage of North Korea's own skyline, replete with newly-built glistening towers.

The video ended on scenes of apparently ecstatic North Koreans welcoming their leader home.

Trump: 'No longer a nuclear threat'

North Korea is not the only one advertising the broad success of the Singapore summit -- in a series of tweets on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said the trip had been a "very positive experience."

"Just landed - a long trip, but everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea," the US leader said on his official Twitter account. "North Korea has great potential for the future!"

However US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo strongly denied there would be any easing of sanctions on Pyongyang until denuclearization was complete.

"(Trump) has said this from the very beginning, he said it again to Chairman Kim and he said it in his press conference following his meeting with Chairman Kim," he told reporters at a news conference Thursday.

Additionally, a surprise announcement by President Trump that military exercises with South Korea would be suspended has been met with confusion in Seoul.

Although the Moon Jae-in administration widely welcomed the news from the summit, South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said on Thursday any calling off of the drills would require "consultations."